Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1905 — STEWARTS ARE IN BAD ODOR. [ARTICLE]

STEWARTS ARE IN BAD ODOR.

Gravel Road Contractors Very Slow In Paying Labor Bills. While it was given out that Stewart & Son, the Hanging Grove gravel road contractors, who suspended work some six weeks ago until spring, “because they could not secure men and teams,” it is now reported that they were “ahy” on paying for work already done, and have kept writing replies to demands for payment, saying they would return in a “few days” and fix matters up, but so far have not done ao. It is said that there are several hundred dollars owed to people who have worked for them on the road, and also a board bill contracted while there. Several of these claims have been placed in the bauds of attorneys here for collection but at this writing have not been paid. The contractors completed less than a half mile of the road during the past summer, but drew at the October term of commissioners’ court $441.48. This is all they have drawn on the contract The people who sold them the stone crusher outfit have been making some inquiries and it is surmised that they alao owe for it. They ?;ave a bond for the faithful perormance of their contract, to pay all labor, board, etc., in the Federal Union Surety Co., of Indianapolis, which is no doubt good. But the Stewarts may also be all right, and straighten affairs up satisfactorily, although they do not appear to be doing business on very good business principles, and a number of people seem to think that they will not come back to complete the contract. The $2,500 forfeit money that they put up on their Iroqnois ditch bid, and which is supposed to belong to them, at least about $2,000 of same—the State Bank here having claim on about S4OO was drawn out last week, but the bills against them have not been liquidated at thia writing.,